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Former President Trump has repeatedly announced he would pressure FIFA to relocate global soccer tournament games from a venue based on the local political climate, with Boston emerging as the third urban area to receive such statements from the White House. Furthermore, Trump indicated he would contemplate similar action against Southern California for the 2028 Olympics due to potential safety issues.

Jurisdictional Limits and Potential Influence

Although Trump does not have formal power to personally cancel either event, he is able to exert influence the respective governing bodies in charge of each event to move locations.

Setting for Statements

These statements were made during a media briefing with Javier Milei, who was at the executive mansion following the announcement of a multibillion-dollar rescue package for the Argentine economy. Near the end of the gathering, a media member questioned Trump about a recent public disturbance in Boston where authorities were attacked and a police vehicle was burned. The journalist also asked if such events could lead to the loss of organizing rights for the larger soccer tournament.

“I would take them away,” the former president said about the soccer matches, scheduled to be held at the Massachusetts arena. “The city's leader is poor … she’s extremist, and activists are taking over areas of downtown. It's a pretty big statement, don't you think?”

Public Gatherings and Political Context

Unauthorized gatherings, a online-fueled occurrence where large crowds gather on city streets after dark to perform stunts, have been a repeated nuisance in metropolitan centers since the Covid-19 pandemic closures. Current such gatherings have turned violent in the region, including the city. However, these events are typically not seen as tied to any specific political ideology.

“In cases where a mayor is doing a bad job, and I perceive there’s dangerous circumstances, I will call Gianni [Infantino], who is outstanding, and suggest it should be shifted to another location,” Trump said on Tuesday. “He'd do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he would comply. Without hesitation, he would.”

FIFA Relationship

The organization's head has publicly acknowledged his strategies to be publicly aligned with Trump before the upcoming World Cup, set to be staged in multiple US locations across the United States along with two in Canada and three in the southern neighbor. The FIFA president has been present at several White House gatherings, arranged for Trump hand over the Club World Cup trophy after that tournament’s final, and has even delayed his the group's assembly to accompany Trump on a trip to the Gulf states earlier in 2025.

Past Statements

Nevertheless, Trump from suggesting the cancellation of World Cup games from other US host cities. Recently, the Washington city and San Francisco came under similar statements, with Trump asserting both urban centers were “governed by radical left lunatics who lack understanding what they're managing,” while questioning the security conditions of both locales and implying that events could be removed.

Official Rebuttal

The organization's deputy Montagliani rebuffed Trump’s assertions when he reacted afterward at a conference in the UK capital.

“It’s the organization's event, FIFA’s jurisdiction, we decide those decisions,” he said. “Respectfully to national heads, soccer is bigger than them and the game will outlast their regime and their leadership. It's the essence of this sport, that it is bigger than a single person and bigger than individual states.”

Olympics Threat

On Tuesday, Trump’s reply to a inquiry about Boston extended to a comparable warning regarding the upcoming Summer Games.

“If I thought LA was not going to be sufficiently organized, I would relocate it to a different city if necessary,” he remarked. “For the Olympics I might have to secure a varying approval, but we would proceed.”

The permission Trump refers to would need to come via the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their president, Kirsty Coventry, was elected to her post in spring and has so far not meet publicly with Trump, but she indicated that she would like a sit-down with the US figure at a future time.

Further Comments

Trump also questioned the state's leader Newsom’s response of the blazes, remarking that a comparable scenario could result in the removal of the event.

“When he doesn’t play ball, we are going to have to be very tough,” Trump said.

His message was just as unambiguous for the Massachusetts city.

“The city should address these issues,” he said. “That is I can say.”